A Lot Of 'Rocky' In This Southpaw Tennis

Both are street fighters who captured the imagination of the American public.

Both have emotionless super athletes from Communist countries named Ivan in their path at the moment.

And both love Philly.

Connors is currently trying to become the first man to ever win the U.S. Pro Indoor title five times. He won here in 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1980. That ties him with "Rocket" Rod Laver and John McEnroe for the most triumphs.

"I've always enjoyed playing in front of these people," said the 5-foot- 10, 155-pound bantam rooster. "Plus, I enjoy the surroundings here. The two courts (used side-by-side the first four days of play) never bothered me. Some players don't like that. I've used that to my advantage over the years.

"Then when they go to one court I use that to my advantage," said the man who has won almost $7 million playing tennis. "The lighting is better and so is the atmosphere. I get a feeling like I'm alone out there and that's what I like. I like being out there one-on-one, alone and nobody else around. Plus, I like this event."

"Jimbo" isn't about to concede a thing to anyone in the field even though he's now 33 years old and has played only a handful of Nabisco Grand Prix matches since October.

"That's the good thing about the game," Connors said after disposing of Slobodan Zivojinovic in a third round match. "Every time is a new time. That's why they put the net up. That's what I've said my whole career.

Indeed, Connors is given a lot of the credit for the huge gains tennis made as a spectator sport in the early '70s. His spunky, brawling, blue-collar work ethic took tennis out of the backyards of the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts and plopped it right on the stoop of Archie Bunker.

It has been said that he personally "turned the genteel game of tennis into a sport of pugilism in designer shorts."

Yo, Rocky, no wonder we like this guy.

Connors and Rocky do have some differences, though.

Rocky's true love Adrienne looked like the "Bride of Frankenstein" when he first dated her at the pet shop.

Connors got one of the rare Playboy centerfolds that didn't come with the staples attached. He married precious Patti Macquire and now is the proud father of a six-year old son (Brett) and a one-year old daughter (Aubree).

And while the Rock got up at 4 a.m. to crack those eggs and dance on the steps of the Art Museum, Connors says he struggles to make practice at 7:30 a.m. That's a minor concession to his advancing years.

"It takes me a little bit longer to recover," said the oldest member of the Grand Prix circuit. "But it's not to the point where I can't get up and move. I go out and warm up slowly, a little more slower than I used to. But at 7:30 in the morning I'm a little slow no matter what I'm doing."

Connors carried a 5-1 lifetime mark against Tim Mayotte into last night's quarterfinal round match. But the one loss still haunts him.

That came in their first meeting when Mayotte was still in Stanford. Connors was up 6-3, 5-2 when he came unraveled.

"You pray to get people 6-3, 5-2," said Connors. "You have two breaks and get to serve twice. When those kind slip away from you, believe me, you don't forget them."

Connors is realistic when looking at his game right now. It's not the form that made him the world's No. 1 player from 1974-1978. It will never reach that level again. But it's still enough to keep him among the Big Four for another year or two.

"I'm not in a guessing period with my tennis," Connors said. "I feel pretty comfortable. But I have to play better. I feel like I can move a little bit better. I feel like I can serve a little bit better.

Connors always wears his heart on his sleeve when he plays. It's a passion too huge to ever be hidden.

"I love playing tennis," he said. "I'd probably play it in anything and probably already have.

"I'm not going to look ahead," Connors added. "I'm taking them one match at a time and whatever happens, happens."

So far, almost everything that has happened to Connors has been good. Just like Rocky.